text_original: England was connected with Flanders by commercial interests, and long negotiations had been conducted with the Flemish Government for a close alliance. But Charles's advisers were won over by France, and ChsLrles himself was attracted by the hope of a French marriage. His position was difficult, as he was poor and helpless; he could not even go to take possession of the Spanish Crowns without help from one side or the other.
text_transcription: ENGLAND WAS CONNECTED WITH FLANDERS BY COMMERCIAL INTERESTS AND LONG NEGOTIATIONS HAD BEEN CONDUCTED WITH THE FLEMISH GOVERNMENT FOR A CLOSE ALLIANCE BUT CHARLES'S ADVISERS WERE WON OVER BY FRANCE AND CHARLES HIMSELF WAS ATTRACTED BY THE HOPE OF A FRENCH MARRIAGE HIS POSITION WAS DIFFICULT AS HE WAS POOR AND HELPLESS HE COULD NOT EVEN GO TO TAKE POSSESSION OF THE SPANISH CROWNS WITHOUT HELP FROM ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER
phonemes: ˈɪŋɡlənd wʌz kənˈɛktᵻd wɪð flˈændɚz baɪ kəmˈɜːʃəl ˈɪntɹɛsts, ænd lˈɔŋ nᵻɡˌoʊʃɪˈeɪʃənz hɐdbɪn kəndˈʌktᵻd wɪððə flˈɛmɪʃ ɡˈʌvɚnmənt fɚɹə klˈoʊs ɐlˈaɪəns. bˌʌt tʃˈɑːɹlzᵻz ɐdvˈaɪzɚz wɜː wˈʌn ˌoʊvɚ baɪ fɹˈæns, ænd sˌiːˌeɪtʃˈɛs ˌɛlˈɑːɹlˈɛs hɪmsˈɛlf wʌz ɐtɹˈæktᵻd baɪ ðə hˈoʊp əvə fɹˈɛntʃ mˈæɹɪdʒ. hɪz pəzˈɪʃən wʌz dˈɪfɪkəlt, æz hiː wʌz pˈʊɹ ænd hˈɛlpləs; hiː kʊd nˌɑːt ˈiːvən ɡˌoʊ tə tˈeɪk pəzˈɛʃən ʌvðə spˈænɪʃ kɹˈaʊnz wɪðˌaʊt hˈɛlp fɹʌm wˈʌn sˈaɪd ɔːɹ ðɪ ˈʌðɚ.